NOT really…! Ben’s family birth certificate says that he was born on January 6, 1706, but when the Colonies switched to a different calendar to keep pace with the seasons, his new birthday became January 17! Founding Father. One of five men…

It all begins with the sheep. Our Earlybird Winter Discovery Guide’s fourth book, A New coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert is a sweet story that helps readers learn just where a wool coat actually comes from. A very fun project…

Where I live there are NEVER snow days (sad face). But there is ALWAYS white paint!   For this icy, project I decided to introduce the art of Jasper Johns to inspire my apprentice artists. I'm hoping to inspire yours too.…

Our Earlybird Winter Literature and Writing Discovery Guide’s third book, The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt is re-telling of a folk tale about all kinds of animals trying to fit in a lost mitten! Hilarious! We love the theme that common…

What better way to learn about courage than from a character in a book! Our Earlybird Winter Literature and Writing and Discovery Guide features Brave Irene by William Steig. Irene demonstrates love and courage by helping her sick mother in…

For an interdisciplinary approach to literature, dive into our Winter Earlybird Literature Discovery Guide that features an eclectic mix of wonderfully told stories. It begins with Snowballs by Lois Ehlert, where your child will discover the wonders of the water cycle…

Sparkle! And while you are at it sparkle and spin. Add capital letters to that phrase and you've got one bling-of-a-book!  Sparkle and Spin: A Book About Words by Ann Rand and Paul Rand is a mid-century treasure that I…

  I’ve never understood apple pie and cheddar cheese. For me it’s apple pie and books. One day, after a long walk, John sat under a tree to rest—an apple tree, of course. What better way to begin pie making…

  I love fall. I love the sights. I love the scents. I love the texture of leaves crunching beneath my feet. I love the snap of ripe apples being twisted from branches. And I love the stories of fall.…

I say, "Dissection." And they say, "Yuk."   There are many reasonable reasons to object.  But there are also many reasonable reasons to overcome.    We should first stop to consider that dissection of a frog, for example, provides a…